Bikes Of 2025: Singular Cycles Peregrine Mk4

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 Singular Cycles Peregrine Mk4:

The newest bicycle in the fleet is the Singular Cycles Peregrine Mk4. This bike didn't arrive here until September, so it hasn't had much of a chance of getting ridden. However; I did get out on a few longer rides on the bike. It will definitely feature heavily as a bike I choose to ride in 2026. 

I wanted something like the Peregrine because it can take up to 50mm tires with clearance to spare. I like the classically inspired look. It has lugged construction, which I like. It also has a more traditionally formed and constructed fork, which I also admire, but all of those things are not without critical modern touches. 

Through axles, fork accessory mounts, and disc brakes all help make the Peregrine 'up to date'  The paneled head tube and seat tube lend classic style as well. Plus, you get the Singular signature feature, an eccentric bottom bracket. Essential for a clean single speed look. 

Veteran's Day Ride. Image by N.Y. Roll

I got out on a multi-surface ride with N.Y. Roll in early November on the Peregrine. This was a good test of where I was at with the evolution of the set up. throughout the ride I never was frustrated by any aspect of the bike. 

The ride of the Peregrine is stiffer than you might hope for. I still believe it is a good riding bike, and it handles with complete neutrality. Not too much of anything, really, or not enough of anything.  But I feel like I can make a smoother ride experience with better tires. 

I know MG and some others would say I should put on Rene Herse tires, but my head won't let me do it. This is a lost cause for consideration by myself. My loss, I guess. (But honestly, I'd be too anxious to use those tires after hearing all the horror stories I've heard, so that's my opinion.) 

I'll find something. I'm not worried about it, and the Cazadero tires are just fine for now. I've got a set of Pirelli tires I'm going to give a try out next. 

So, other than flipping wheel sets and tires like I always do, I do not see any changes to the Peregrine now. However; things rarely stay the same with my bicycles and me, so you know how this will likely turn out.  

Bikes Of 2025: Salsa Cycles Fargo (Gen I)

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

This bicycle might be the most recognizable bike I have. Most folks know well what it looks like and what this bike has meant to me over the years.. I received this bike in late 2008 as a gift of sorts. Ostensibly I was only to have been riding it for a demo, but ....... Well, you had to be there, I guess. Anyway, this bike means a lot to me because of the person behind it, who had the idea for the bike, and essentially was the one who coined the term, "Adventure by Bike;". Well, if it wasn't Jason Boucher who coined the term, he certainly was a big proponent of the saying and the ideal behind the saying. 

I have encouraged Jason to tell his story about the Fargo for years, and he has teased us with a few details, but maybe one day we'll get the full enchilada. Maybe......

I use the Fargo for occasions which I am going to be finding myself in territory I am unfamiliar with. Why? Because the Fargo is like a horse which doesn't let its rider fall off under any circumstances. I have bonded with the bike since day one. I trust the bike, it is very comfortable and capable, and I reach for it every time I feel anxious about a ride. 

The Fargo Gen I has also been a bike I have had very meaningful rides on throughout the years. So, it was the only choice for the Ride For Jacob this past August. I just could not imagine using any other bike for that ride on that particular day. 

Not surprisingly, there is not much left on the Fargo which was on the bike when I received it 18 years ago. There is the head set. I know I have not touched that part. Then maybe the rear and front derailleurs are original to the bike. I think that is all. 

As far as changing anything in the near future goes, well I would like a premium wheel set for it. Something with carbon rims, nice hubs, and sturdy spokes. But it doesn't have to have those things. I just need to ride the Fargo more. And the plan is to do just that. 

This will be the bike which goes with me to the Flint Hills in April for the L.O.G. Ride. I hear Wabaunsee County is pretty rough, and this is right up the Fargo's alley. I will likely be doing some training rides previous to going on the trip on the Fargo as well. Then, I don't know. I'm sure something will come up like the next Ride For Jacob, whenever that happens in 2026. 

Bikes Of 2025: Noble GX5

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

The Noble Bikes GX5 is surprisingly still relevant in 2026.

The Noble GX5 is an unusual bicycle. First of all, there are not very many of these around. The company never really got off the ground, in terms of sales, and now it is gone, I think, although the website is updated to 2025. (See the GX5 page HERE)

Secondly, the bike was designed by a former Raleigh product engineer who sat in on my conversation with their team at Raleigh when the Tamland was in development. So, there is somewhat of a chance my basic geometry ideas trickled into the design of the GX5, and by their charts, I would say this is true. But this is purely speculation on my part. 

Keeping in mind the GX5 came out in 2018, I think it was, and the following details of this bike might surprise you. While the GX5 was claimed to only have clearance for 40mm tires, it easily swallows 47's, and 45's fit all day. So, this is still pretty relevant in terms of the mainstream tire fitments out there. It could become out of date in 2026, but my guess is gravel bikes will pull back somewhat from the MTB wheels and tires to more aero, lighter tires and wheels again. 

The slightly longer top tube, slack head angle, lower bottom bracket, and internal routing of cables is all right on the money from a spec viewpoint in 2026. While the cables do not route through the stem and head tube, I am VERY happy they do not. That is just stupid, (have you seen the damaged steer tubes from cable rub on the internet?), and unnecessary. 

I point all this out because I've had thoughts of passing the Noble GX5 down to someone else. Then I realize I'd pay a lot more just to get something even close to what I already have, so.....why?

Don't fix what ain't broke. Right.... 

So, this bike continues on as being my lightweight, racier option, and it is quite comfortable and capable, now that I have the State Bicycle Co. Monster Gravel Fork v2 on it. This fork can also handle a 29" x 2.1" tire, so I also now can get the benefit of a big, fat tire when desired where it would matter most. 

The Noble GX5 isn't out of date, even though I have had it for six years already. I suppose I could put an electronically shifted drive train on it, but, really? Why do this when I have a bike which does what I need it to flawlessly already? I wouldn't turn my nose up at an opportunity to do a switch to electronic shifting, but I do not need it. 

So, my plan is to just keep using the Noble GX5 when the situation calls for a light, fast bike or if  I just want to ride it. I suspect it will stick around here for quite some time.  

Bikes Of 2025: Salsa Cycles Mukluk (The Snow Dog)

It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

2011 Salsa Cycles Mukluk:

The Mukluk, a 50th birthday present from several friends. It is the bike I call "The Snow Dog". Yes, it is a Rush reference. 

The Snow Dog had been in mothballs off and on throughout the time I've owned it, but it was never far away from me and it always surprises me how good it is whenever I do get it out to ride it. Of course, it is frighteningly out of date in terms of fat bikes. It is, in essence, a first gen fat bike. The only thing here which is truly innovative in terms of the first fat bikes is the 170mm rear end. 

But this bike has endeared itself to me and also, it was a birthday present from a group of cherished friends, so it is hard to let go of it. I cannot stand having a bike around I don't use, so I keep going back to it again and again. 

It has uncanny stability, it rides off road really well. It can carry a fair amount of gear, if you want it to do this. But you'd be lucky to squeeze anything bigger than a 4.0 rear tire in there and have any real clearances. The front is a little more forgiving, but yeah.... This is not the bike to go into anything but groomed trail if we are talking about snow riding. There are more capable bikes for that and I happen to have a couple of them! 

So, I don't know....... I should decommission this thing and move on, but I just cannot seem to do that.  Maybe I should plan some big country ride and get it done on the Snow Dog. I know I'd be surprised and pleased by the outcome. 

Bikes Of 2025: Ti Muk 2 (Salsa Cycles Titanium Mukluk)

  It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

2015 Salsa Cycles Titanium Mukluk:

This bike is the ultimate Winter commuter bike, but I use it for more than just Winter riding. Obviously, not too long ago it was my Virtual Turkey Burn Ride bike of choice.  I use it for gravel riding at times also. The name, "Ti Muk 2" goes with this bike because it is my second titanium Mukluk I've owned. 

But the main thing is Winter gettin' around. This is an "ultimate" because of the drive train and the wheels. The drive train because it does not have exposed gears or derailleurs. The single chain, chain ring, and cog are a lot less prone to premature wear due to Winter slop. The gears, all fourteen of 'em, are housed internally. The range I get is perfect for commuting or for grinding up a steep dike or slogging through deep slushy snow. 

Doing some saddle testing early in 2025 with the Ti Muk 2

The bike requires little from me other than a periodic oil change and a once-every-five-year sealant clean-up. Since I've upgraded the lights, replaced a bottom bracket and chain ring, and went with an Answer carbon handlebar I've pretty much dialed this bike in. 

I did have a wrangle with the rear caliper on this bike, but since replacing the Avid BB-7 with a Spyke TRP caliper the rear brake issue has been put to bed. I now have an actual rear brake instead of a speed scrubber! 

 

I ended up going back to the OG Salsa branded WTB Silverado which came to me on the bike when I got it six years ago or so. I like that saddle a lot on this bike, for some reason, because I wasn't thinking I'd like the older narrower Silverado. But I do. 

I guess the only other thing here which is interesting is when people look at the bike and ask me how much it would cost. You have to figure in today's economy the cost would be pretty exorbitant. Probably nearly the price of a decent sub-compact used car. I don't really know, though, because this sort of thinking does not compute with my brain. I simply don't care about the subject. It is what it is. Buy one or do not buy one like it. I only know it is a whole lot of fun to ride and it can go a lot of places cars cannot go. Besides, I've saved a load of cash by not burning dinosaur sueezin's instead. 

Bikes Of 2025: Salsa Cycles Blackborow DS

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

Salsa Cycles Blackborow DS:

This bicycle has been around here for a little over ten years now. I have tried to get rid of it, almost had it sold in 2020, but nope! It's little used around here, but when it is needed, it gets a ton of use.  

The "DS" in the name stands for "Dual Singlespeed". The Blackborow DS has parallel single speed cog and chain ring sets with a single chain which must be moved manually to access a second ratio. The caveat here is that both single speed sets have to have the same number of total teeth. So, for instance you could have a 22T front with a 24T rear and a 24T front with a 22T rear. Both sets equal 46 total teeth. This means you have a single chain and it will fit either set of cogs. You cannot cross-chain either, in case you are wondering.  

This bike shines best when snow or mud is the worst. The big Clownshoe rims and Bud and Lou tires are why this is. I have been running around 5psi so far this month and the stability and traction are outstanding. 

The reason I purchased the Blackborow DS was twofold. One was for the flotation in deep snow where it would allow me to traverse areas where no grooming of snow had been done. Secondly, it has no derailleurs and cassette cogs to get wasted by Winter chemical treatment of the road ways. 

Trouble was, the dual-single speed drive train, while cool, useful, and robust, wasn't very fast for commuting. I only commute on this bike if conditions are horrid. The Ti Muk 2 I have is essentially what this bike should have been back in 2014. But I couldn't afford a 5K fat bike at the time! I am always impressed by the Blackborow's lack of weight compared to the Ti Muk 2 though. 

It is great bike when riding across 8" of fresh snow in a grassy field and busting trail. It does great in post-holed, frozen trail. It is fun if things get saturated in the Green Belt and I want to go exploring. So, for now the bike stays. 

Bikes Of 2025: Singular Cycles Gryphon

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 The Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 is a bicycle I have which is part modern and part throw-back. With its 29" X 2.8" wheels and tires, drop bar specific design, and through axles it is right up to date with current trends in adventure bikes. But I have kitted it out with a 3X chain set, 9 speed shifters and derailleur, and a friction shifted front derailleur. 

It's perfect.

I used this bike on some demanding gravel out in Westcentral Iowa for the Tree In The Road Ride. The bike was absolutely no problem. I could access all the gears and the granny was definitely a low enough ratio I could crawl up the steep gravel hills there even though the Sun was baking me alive. 

I regret I don't have enough time to ride this bike more. It is a really comfortable bike. I added a Redshift Sports ShockStop stem, one of the new short versions, and it really helps out smoothing the vibrations to almost nothing on the hands. I have a Luxy Bar on it as well, which also helps me out ergonomically. (I hope they reissue this as rumored)

So, there is not much of anything I'd change with the Gryphon. I would like to add something to its versatility though. An alternate wheel set. 

The Gryphon utilizes a 15mm through axle standard up front, so I happen to have a spare DT Swiss hub which would match. I'd just need a nice rear hub, a set of pretty wide rims, and then lace those up. I then could use different tires. Maybe something not as wide and faster. I don't know. It is jus6t an idea, not anything I would be super-pressed to do anytime soon. 

More than changes to the bike, I need to change how much it gets used. As in "more", that is all!  

Bikes Of 2025: Singular Cycles Buzzard

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 This bicycle hasn't been featured on this list in years. I had it torn apart and the frame was in mothballs for all this time waiting for someone to buy it. Trouble was the bike was designed during a transition period for 29"ers. 

We were just coming out of the era of "Gen I" geometry for 29"ers and the progression toward slack, low, and long geometry, which we still have today, was just beginning. Furthermore, trail bicycles were all going to through axle rear ends. The Buzzard came out with a QR rear drop out arrangement. You can kind of see where Sam Alison was caught in between changes as the Buzzard does have a bit lower bottom bracket and a bit slacker head tube angle. There was no dropper post routing, or consideration for long-travel droppers as those items were just coming on the scene, or would in a few years after the Buzzard's release. 

So, the Buzzard is an oddball. No one seems to want a bicycle like this, unless..... unless you turn it into a bike packing bike. Then a lot of the geometry makes sense. A quick release rear end is not a big deal, and with the mid-slack head tube angle, it wouldn't handle like a wheelbarrow and it would play nice with a front load. 

The use of a fat bike fork and rear specific hub made this idea unique. 

 I suddenly had a crazy idea. What if I laced up a single speed, quick release or bolt-on hub and used my old Salsa Cycles Enabler front fork for the Buzzard? The idea being if a rear derailleur failed I could swap wheels and have a single speed "bail-out" feature. 

Usually Singular has a single speed option for their models, most commonly in the form of a bottom bracket eccentric. However, this is not the case with the Buzzard. So, I got a Velo Orange eccentric bottom bracket and stuck this in the bike in case of a need to tension a chain for single speed bail-out situations. Although, I have to say I was disappointed in this product and I will likely be packing a Singulator as well just in case the eccentric doesn't work, or in case, (more than likely) I replace the Velo Orange unit. 

Anyway, the idea came together and it was a success overall. I need to square away a few details, but the bike is rideable and handles really well. The big thing here is I actually have to go on a trip. That would probably help.  

Bikes Of 2025: Surly Big Dummy

  It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

Cycling to recycle

The Surly Big Dummy has been around for a while here at Guitar Ted Productions and while you blog readers do not see much of the bike, I do use it quite often. 

This bike goes on nearly weekly trips to the recycling station. I get a lot of odd looks when I haul all my cardboard, plastic, and cans over the river and to the nearest station to me. I don't mind the stares. 

But I also use this bicycle occasionally as the delivery bike for the Collective. However; this year I only did this trip once as we cut way back on ordering stuff. So, there wasn't a lot of hauling action for this bike from the Collective. 

I did get the chance to haul tools and a repair stand to a nearby bike check at the Public Library. That was interesting! I always find it to be fun to figure out how to carry different things on te Big Dummy. 

The saddest cargo I carried this year, or in any year, was the body of our cat which died suddenly in June. Felix the Cat got a last ride in a long, black "bicycle hearse" with wide white walls. Fitting for a black cat, I'd say. That was one tough ride on the big Dummy. I don't care to ever repeat it. 

Another recycling run

The repair stand and tool box loaded on the Big Dummy.

The interesting thing about the big Dummy is in all the years I've had it, I've never replaced or done any deep maintenance on anything on the bike. I did get a flat tire on the front this year. The first flat ever for the bike. Otherwise, it runs fine, but there are hints telling me things need looked into. 

So, in 2026 I plan on doing deep maintenance on this bicycle to get it up to snuff. It won't be fun to take off the bags and work around the Big Dummy's clumsiness in a repair stand, but it must be done. Otherwise this bike is doing great.  

Bikes Of 2025: Karate Monkey

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 My 2003 Karate Monkey is still rolling along in 2025 after 22 years of service. It is my bicycle which I have had running the longest out of any I have now. This is also my first ever 29"er, the bike I rode the longest in one sitting, (around 160+ miles), and was my first gravel grinder bicycle. 

For most of its time with me it has had drop bars. I changed to a flat bar when I got in the Good Grief Cycles "Nice Bar" and installed it back in January of this year. It also was mostly used with disc brakes until a couple of years ago. 

As far as uses went this year I very briefly had this out on gravel, but for the most part it was a commuting bike used on the occasions when I wasn't riding fixed gear. I did put a computer on the bike this year as well. An older, NOS Cateye Velo 5. I recently put an old, reconditioned Brooks saddle and silver post on the bike but I am going back to what you see here in the Ritchey post and apple green Brooks B-17. 

One weird fact about this bike is the head set. It is a Race Face head set which I purchased in 1996 for a Diamondback full suspension XC bike I used to have. I used this head set when I first built this bike up in March of 2003. It is a turquoise anodized head set and it works perfectly on the bike to this day.  

In the future I have contemplated going back to disc brakes, but this would require a new wheel set, or.....I still have the original wheel set. It was a Paul Components WORD hubbed, Alex disc rim wheel set. I need a couple of parts for the Paul rear WORD hub to make it right again, but I hear Paul still will service these older hubs. I have to look into this. 

As far as the bars go, I like them, and the fact the Nice Bar is an angled extension bar makes me more likely to stick with it. Otherwise I think I'd go back to a drop bar again. 

I also need to find a new set of tires for the KM. I have on a set of old Vulpine 2.1" tires which are kind of weird handling and not the greatest for what I want out of this bike. 

I likely won't ever get rid of this bicycle until I cannot ride anymore. It is not just significant to me, but these first gen Karate Monkeys were the bikes a lot of custom frame builders used as a template for their early 29"er custom bikes. I'd go so far as to say this model was the most copied bicycle in modern times, from a geometry and style point of view. The first Karate Monkeys were most definitely a boon to the acceptance of 29"ers at that time and later. 

So, I am happy to have this bicycle yet, and it will be getting miles in 2026 as well. 

Bikes Of 2025: Shogun Fixed Gear

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 Last year I found a Shogun road bike from the 1980's which had been donated to the Cedar Valley Bicycle collective. I looked it over and determined it would be a great fixed gear bicycle candidate. As it turned out, I was correct. I bought the bike, stripped it down, and re-fitted it with new wheels and handle bar/stem. The old crank I used but I did remove one ring. 

I used a cheap, Bell department store 1 1/8th pitch chain and I used some Fyxation Mesa pedals. The Brooks saddle was on the bike when it came in, by the way. So was the water bottle cage. I did use one of the original caliper brakes but the front one was not able to clear the 30mm Panaracer Pasela tire, so I went with one brake actuated by a single Velo Orange lever. 

I also added the awesome and highly recommended Velo Orange Burrito Supreme handle bar bag.  I also added on a sweet sounding brass bell. 

I got to where I would find excuses to ride this bike. I did all of my main commuting in warmer weather on the Shogun. It used to be I liked fixed gear in smaller doses, but this bicycle really turned me on to wanting to ride fixed gear more and more. 

So much so I was wishing the Shogun had clearances for wider tires to ride out on the gravel. This led me on a few internet seeking sessions and after a chat with my good friend Ari, I have decided on a course of action to satisfy an itch. 

All of which to say that the Shogun will, most likely, be scuttled to make way for a special project which will bring a bicycle I already have back to life again and become my fixed gear gravel cruiser. (Plus still be a very capable urban commuter!) 

I think this may be the last you see of the ol' Shogun. While it did not last for long with me it did spur a love for fixed gear riding which has led to something new and better. (I hope!) Stay tuned....
 

Bikes Of 2025: Black Mountain Cycles MCD

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 The Black Mountain Cycles MCD has been a part of the stable now since 2018. This is kind of a transitional model between the Monster Cross and the Mod Zero model currently offered by Black Mountain Cycles. So, this MCD has been discontinued, but a Mod Zero is a great alternative and better in some ways to the MCD. (In case you were wanting something like this bicycle.)

I always wanted a pink bicycle. I am maybe weird this way, but ever since "Captain Dondo" wrote about his pink Specialized mtb in "Dirt Rag" I have thought about owning a pink bicycle. Then I missed out on Mike Varley's offering of a pink BMC Monster Cross model and I was sure I missed the boat there. However; in 2018 Mike tipped me off about his offering a pink MCD model, one of the first of the run of this model, and I bought in immediately. 

I think of the MCD as my "skinny tire Fargo", or a Vaya-like bicycle. I've ridden both extensively on gravel and there are characteristics of both Salsa models in this MCD. That's a good thing. 

In fact, initially I set the MCD up to mimic exactly my then Fargo Gen I set up. It made this bike instantly comfortable and easy to get along with. 

I swap out wheels so much on this bicycle I never really get a chance to hone in on anything super-specific about the way it rides, but I'll just say it is very good. 

Changes? Well, maybe sticking to a single wheel set and tire combination for a season! I might switch out more components to GRX, or maybe a new group set at some point. I have enjoyed the carbon VentureMax handle bar on this bike, so this component will not change. 

My only big change I really want to see is riding more on this bicycle than I did in 2025. The MCD was minimally used this year, and I often wished it could have been out with me more than it was. This will be a goal for 2026. 

Bikes Of 2025: Raleigh Tamland Two

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 The Raleigh Tamland Two finishes out its 11th year here with minimal use. I had it out a couple of times this Spring, but on through Summer it sat mostly unused. The longest ride I did on it was the Labor Day Ride with N.Y. Roll, at least I think it was the longest ride I did on that bike for 2025.

I did figure out the rear wheel issue, which wasn't a rear wheel issue, and bought a new crank set for it in a 170mm length. I was hoping to put a lot more miles on this bike to see what I thought of the slightly shorter cranks, but alas! I just never got around to it. I think I like this shorter crank, but as of now, I cannot say until I get more time in on those. 

Since I gave away the Black Mountain Cycles MCD this is now my oldest purposed gravel bike. I'm definitely not getting rid of it, and if you have been a long-term reader here, you know all about the story which would explain why. 

As for changes I may build a chi-chi wheel set for this bike some day. Maybe a set of blue hubs with silver spokes on carbon rims of some sort. I mean, that'd be cool, but totally unnecessary. It's a good bike as is. So, I wouldn't count on much changing with this one. 

Bikes of 2025: The King Fabrications "Honeman Flyer"

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 The Honeman Flyer has quickly risen to become one of my favorite bicycles I've ever ridden. This purely based upon my feelings when I ride it. It's so good, thanks in no small part to Li King of King Fabrications. Li had a lot of latitude in this bicycle's details. Sure, the geometry was a lock due to my demand the design reflect all the angles and degrees the original Pop Warner design for Willie Honeman had going on. But Li picked the tubing, decided how to miter the tubes and join them, and Li was the painter as well. I let Li do whatever Li wanted with the paint, and Li knocked it out of the park, in my opinion. I just wanted to make a point of Li's choices in the tubing which contribute heavily to how this bicycle rides.

Still, I find it hard to believe the Honeman Flyer rides as well as it does. It could have been a disaster even though Li did such a great job. This is due to how weird the rear half of this bicycle was designed originally. I have nothing which even comes close to how this bicycle is designed. It makes zero sense, when you think about it, as to why I would even get along with such a radically different bicycle. 

The seat tube is super-slack. The chain stays are really long. The bottom bracket drop is pretty deep. By all accounts, when considering geometry for gravel bicycles in 2025, this should not work for anyone. 

But it works great for me!

The combination of the weird stuff I already mentioned and a somewhat slack 71° head tube angle all combines to make a bike which feels super-stable and accelerates with immediacy when I stomp on the pedals. It handles well enough that during the 2024 Mid-South I was able to navigate the single track section with ease. 

I have only one beef with the bike and it has to do with tire clearances. I wish I would have asked for clearance for up to a 50mm tire. But as it is, I can fit around a 44mm wide tire and I have adequate clearance, so I can live with that. 

Changes? Well, this bicycle is kind of an inside joke regarding seat posts. I think I've gone through a half a dozen trying to find "the one" which will stay on the bike. Currently it sports a straight, no offset, Thompson in silver.  This works great, and I love the look, but eventually I think I'm going back to a carbon post or a titanium post with zero offset. 

I love Ritchey VentureMax bars, which is what the bike has, but I could see myself going with a carbon version for a bit more compliance. I could upgrade the brakes to Paul Klampers as well, since this bike is so custom, and I like it so well, it deserves this level of parts.  

The current state of the King Fabrications Honeman Flyer

Another consideration is a new crank set. I like those Paul cranks which came out recently. I can see upgrading to something like those and doing a nicer bottom bracket as well. 

But I do not need to do anything. These are all just wants/desires. The bike is serviceable and rides so well. So, I am in no hurry to change it up at any point in the near future.